Lord of the Blade (29 page)

His raven landed on the ground near the feet
of Rock.

"You are late," commented Corbett. "Or have
you come to peck the eyes from the dead?"

The bird hopped over to Corbett and the sun
glittered from something in its beak.

"What have you got now?" asked Corbett,
bending down to remove it. Taking the token in his hand, with a
mere glance he realized it was Devon's amulet.

"She tried to warn me," he spoke to the
raven. " I wonder how she knew?"

Chapter
22

Boltoff pushed Devon off the horse as soon
as they’d made it to the cave. She fell to the ground in a heap.
The baroness had been captured when she’d come onto the field to
try to save Malcomn, and now Boltoff had more to ransom than
originally planned.

On the trip up the mountain, Boltoff had
exposed the baroness’s identity and her tarnished past. Now Malcomn
lay against a large rock, not only bleeding from his arm but from
his heart as well. Boltoff let Gilda know he didn’t like to be
betrayed. Gilda on the other hand was astonished that her own
brother, Thorpe, would have turned against her.

Boltoff jumped off his horse and dragged
Devon to her feet. “Tend to Malcomn’s wound,” he ordered. “He’ll be
worth nothing to me if he’s dead.”

She raised her eyes to Boltoff, wanting to
kill him for what he’d done. He’d killed many people today out of
his own greed and envy. And now he planned on killing Corbett when
he came for Devon, like they both knew he would.

“I hate you!” she said through gritted
teeth, spitting at the man’s feet. His fist swiped toward her, but
she quickly moved away, falling to the ground, miraculously only
ending up with a grazed lip instead of a broken nose.

Boltoff grabbed her by the back of the hair
and pulled her to her feet. She winced with the pain against her
scalp, but refused to cry out.

"Well, what do we have here?" asked Boltoff,
eyeing the birthmark now clearly exposed on the back of her
neck.

Devon wiped her bleeding lip on the back of
her hand and tried to struggle free from his grip. Malcomn sat on a
rock nearby, and Thorpe sauntered over to stand next to Gilda.

"Leave me alone." More anger than fear
dashed through her mind. "I am only a servant, I will tend to Lord
Malcomn, now let me be."

"Aye," Boltoff agreed still clinging to her
hair. "You will attend to Lord Malcomn, but you are definitely not
just a servant as you claim to be."

"What's all this nonsense?" Gilda tried to
brush the dirt from her fine satin gown.

Boltoff dragged Devon by the hair to Gilda's
side. "See for yourself," he answered, pushing Devon's neck into
her view. The baroness let out a small gasp as Boltoff continued.
"My fool brother has been searching for a man who does not
exist.”

Malcomn's head popped up to listen to the
conversation as the other men made themselves busy setting up camp
for the night.

"All along, the baron's heir was right under
your stupid noses," thrashed Boltoff. “His heir was a woman, not a
man - and disguised as a servant no less."

“The midwife,” pondered Gilda. “She must
have lied about the baby’s gender before I killed her.”

Devon watched Malcomn's eyes close briefly,
the effects of losing so much blood evident. Losing his balance, he
fell to the ground. He’d fought out against Boltoff’s men in rage
when he’d found his mother was naught but a murderer and he naught
but a bastard. Only when he’d heard he was Lord Cedric’s get, had
he calmed down. Malcomn was fond of the man, and so was she. Devon
had cringed when Boltoff bragged how he was the masterful one who’d
thought up the plan of the switched identities and the way he’d
butchered the real Gilda and her family.

"Get him up, Thorpe," ordered Boltoff. "Take
him to the cave at once so the girl can tend to his wounds. Then
she’ll see to the fire and our meal."

Boltoff grabbed Devon's face in his hands.
"You will make this deal sweeter than honey. Now that I have the
baron's true heir, there is no telling how far he will stoop. I’ve
already sent the ransom note for Malcomn. Once I receive those
goods, I’ll send another pertaining to you. When I am done
demanding ransoms, my brother won’t own the clothes on his
back."

“What about me?” asked Gilda. “How much will
you demand for my return?”

“Hah!” The thought seemed to amuse him. “I
doubt I could bribe someone to take you off my hands. You are
naught but security so I’m insured we’re not attacked when we come
off this mountain. Once I’ve secured Blake Castle as my own, I’ll
dispose of you.”

"Let our secret continue," she pleaded. “So
when I return to the castle I can make sure you get everything you
want."

Boltoff laughed aloud. "Don't you mean, so
you can get everything
you
want?”

"This girl is only going to ruin the plan.
Kill her.”

"On the contrary," Boltoff took a stride
closer to Devon, "I think she will work perfectly for my new plan.
I will sow my seed with the baron's daughter. Now wouldn't that be
convenient? His daughter bears an heir, only this time ’tis my
child who inherits. So no matter the outcome of the ransom, I win
either way."

"Corbett, are you listening?" asked Kenric.
"I don't believe you have heard a single word about what Boltoff
demands for ransom."

Staring at Devon's amulet in his hand, Corbett
studied the etching of the dragon, wondering why he had not noticed
it earlier. He felt the fire breathing into his palm, sparking
memories of a time long ago he'd willed himself to forget. It was
the same amulet Orrick had asked him to give the baroness the day
Malcomn was born. He was sure of it. It was the amulet that was
meant for the baron's heir.

"What have you got there, anyway?" asked the
baron. "It sure seems to hold your undivided attention."

Corbett knew he should tell the baron about
the charm, and his suspicions of Devon being his heir, but
something made him hold his tongue. A twinge in his heart told him
he'd known all along Devon was special. But his mind had told him
to treat her as any other servant, and he had. He gave no special
favors to the woman he tried so hard not to love.

"'Tis just a charm," answered Corbett,
shoving it into his pocket and taking another swig of ale.

"Well," replied Kenric, "I do believe we
need more than a charm to get us out of this mess. Gilda has been
captured also, but I can’t help but think she’s behind all this
treachery somehow."

"You cannot be serious!" Cedric shook his
head in denial.

"I'm sure of it," Corbett agreed, and he
relayed his childhood story, leaving out his suspicions of Devon
and her true identity.

"What ransom did they demand?" Corbett
asked, realizing time was of the essence.

“Everything short of the shoes on my feet,”
said Kenric. “And that is just for Malcomn. He’s not yet mentioned
his intentions for Gilda or Devon.”

There was a small knock on the door and the
page went to open it.

"I will go to negotiate,” Corbett offered.
“But we should not pay a shilling until we’ve bargained for all
three.”

“’Tis too dangerous,” said Kenric and Cedric
nodded his approval. “I agree we should send a man with our
negotiations, but I’ll not send the lord of Steepleton. We’ll send
a squire in your place. Someone who is not a threat to
Boltoff.”

"What about me?"

All three men turned to see Corbett's new
squire standing just inside the solar door.

"Leighton, didn't I tell you to help with
the casualties?" questioned Corbett.

"Aye, my lord," he answered proudly, "and I
did just as you said. However, Sir Delwynn said I was no longer
needed, so I returned to find you to see what my next mission would
be."

Corbett knew Delwynn all too well. Leighton
was very distracting, and he tried kindly to send him somewhere
else. The same thing Corbett was about to do.

"Well, it would not include this task."
Corbett walked back to his chair and sat down.

"Aye, m'lord." He hung his head and Corbett
felt like a scolding parent whose child had just stepped into a
pile of dung. Corbett was used to the excellent performance of
Delwynn but mayhap he was being a bit unfair in comparing the two.
He was once a child wanting to be a man. Wanting to prove himself
just like the young man who stood before him now.

"'Twill be a dangerous mission for such a
young man, you realize." Corbett didn't need to look up to see
Leighton's face glow with excitement.

"I understand, my lord."

"Then go to the stables and prepare your
horse as well as my own.”

"Aye, m'lord." Leighton hurried to the door,
standing taller than when he'd entered.

"You’re going with? Don't be absurd," broke
in Cedric. "Your horse will be spotted long before you can reach
them. You will be putting forth a death wish. Think of what you are
saying."

"Then I will go by foot." Corbett paced the
floor like a wild animal stalking its prey. "I would hide in the
shadows of dusk and wait until nightfall. I am sure I can manage to
sneak into their camp unnoticed."

"And then what?" Cedric continued. "Are you
some sort of wild man to think you can fight them all
yourself?"

"I agree," added the baron. "'Tis too much
of a risk."

"Leighton will be there," commented Corbett.
"And I will take Sir Delwynn as well.”

“Take one more trained warrior, and I may
agree to your absurd idea,” compromised the baron.

Corbett knew the rest of his knights were
wounded. And his men-at-arms were not nearly qualified for this.
What he needed was someone crazy and fearless. And he knew just the
man.

“Delwynn’s Scottish cousin, Storm MacKeefe
is here. He’s known for his barbaric ways. I’m sure he’ll not
object to helping.”

With a nod of the baron’s head, the plan was
set. With Leighton as a distraction, Corbett, Delwynn and Storm
would kill off Boltoff and his men and bring the hostages home.

Chapter 23

"Messenger approaching!"

One of Boltoff's men gave the report as he
stood watch down the side of the cliff. The night sky was closing
in, and it would soon envelope them in a blanket of darkness that
would make it hard to see very far.

"What?" Boltoff rushed to where the guard
stood and peered down the cliff. “I had figured they would wait
till morning."

Devon saw Corbett’s new squire dismount and
walk over to Boltoff. He looked so young and scared, and she
wondered why Corbett would risk the boy’s life by sending him
there.

"I come as a messenger of the baron,"
Leighton said. "I have been sent to negotiate for the
prisoners."

Boltoff threw down the hare’s leg he’d been
gnawing, and wiped his greasy hands on his breeches. His eyes moved
back and forth over their surroundings. “Do you come by
yourself?”

The boy shifted nervously, and Devon could
see his eyes darting toward the bushes.

“Aye, my lord,” he answered in a shaky
voice.

Boltoff smashed his fist into the boy's
face, throwing him into the dirt. "God help you, if this is some
sort of trick. If it is, you will be the first to be killed."

“He’s just a boy!” Devon shouted, lunging
forward to help him. Boltoff grabbed her by the hair and spun her
around.

“Go bring my men some food,” he growled, and
she knew it was only to rid himself of her so she wouldn’t help
Leighton.

Devon pulled some roasted hare from the fire
but realized it was too hot to carry and she had no means to
transport it. "I haven't a way to bring it to them.”

"Then use your skirt," he answered.

She didn't dare argue. She lifted her skirt
up to cradle the hot meat. Boltoff's eyes settled on her legs, and
she moved away quickly before he thought to sow his seeds early.
She headed for the four guards that kept watch south of the cliff,
in the direction of the castle. Two others were guarding the north
end, while the remaining two mercenaries were atop the rocky
cave.

As she approached an ash tree, she stopped
to lean against it. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath to
steady her nerves. Suddenly, a large hand clasped over her mouth,
muffling her cry of surprise. Her hands flew to the strong arm
which pulled her backward. The meat went scattering to the ground
and her skirt fell once more to cover her bare legs.

"Don't walk around like that unless you
intend to bed every man here," came a soft, low whisper in her
ear.

The hand slowly released her mouth, and
Devon turned to see her savior.

"Corbett."

"Shhhh," he whispered. "Don't let the guards
hear you. I will have a hard enough time fighting them off taking
them by surprise."

He pulled her close against his chest and
settled his lips against hers. She flinched at the sting from her
split lip, and Corbett pulled back, obviously having tasted her
blood.

“You’re hurt,” he said, rubbing a drop of
blood away with his thumb.

She closed her eyes at the feel of his skin
against hers. She leaned against his chest in exhaustion, wanting
nothing more than to bask in the safety of his arms.

“’Tis naught,” she told him. “But Malcomn is
wounded badly.”

“I’m here now,” he told her. “You need not
worry. Now go quickly," he warned. "A guard has just spotted us and
is coming this way." With a slight push, he sent her on her way,
and without looking back she could hear the guard shouting.

"Over here! There is someone behind this
tree."

With the sound of clashing metal, Devon knew
the attack was in progress. Her stomach clenched and her head
dizzied. Corbett was in so much danger, and she needed to help him.
Instead of going to the cave as instructed, she lurked in the
shadows and watched. She saw Boltoff raise his head in alarm.